Tobacco pipe



June 1, 1943. E. M. HOUX 2,320,931

TOBACCO PIPE Filed July 21, 1941 Patented June 1, 1943 UNITE S ATS OFIQE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a tobacco pipe, the objects of which are to provide a pipe of simple construction that substantially insures against clogging of passageway from the bowl to the mouthpiece, and that substantially eliminates the tendency to accumulate moisture in the stem or in a trap interposed between the mouthpiece and bowl, and which construction is such that the pipe is readily cleaned.

Another object is the provision of an evaporating chamber adjacent the bowl that is so constructed and positioned as to substantially dry up the moisture during smoking of the pipe, and at the same time preventing any liquid from the mouth of the smoker from contacting the tobacco in the bowl, and which chamber encloses means separable from the bowl, and carried by the mouthpiece for easily and quickly removing any concentrate during or after such evaporation, or solids that may fall into said chamber.

A still further object is a pipe having a mouthpiece and tubular stem projecting therefrom, that is formed relative to the lateral passageway for smoke leading from the bowl, so as to insure a relatively tight fit between said passageway and mouthpiece at points within said passageway spaced longitudinally thereof, rather than attempting to secure a close fit by tapered seats or a close annular fit in said passageway.

An additional object is a pipe that insures a relatively cool and dry smoke overcoming the tendency of moisture draining into the stem to flow back into the mouth or to be drawn into the mouth during smoking. This object is attained by a construction that enables quick separation of the mouthpiece from the bowl, after which the passageway for smoke from the bowl to the mouthpiece opening may be quickly cleaned with a conventional pipe cleaner.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the drawing and specification annexed hereto.

In this respect, I am familiar with the constructions shown in the United States Letters Patents to Jellinghaus, No. 2,106,747, dated February l, 1938; Tarbox, No. 2,106,774, dated February 1, 1938; Kiessig, No. 1,037,493, dated September 3, 1912; Perry, No. 948,634, dated February 8, 1910, and many others that show previous attempts to produce pipes that are intended to include means for cleaning part of the smoke passageway from the bowl to the mouthpiece.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my pipe.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2'2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the plunger element of my device. 7 V

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of a modified form of plunger device.

In detail, the pipe comprises a bowl I formed with the conventional, upwardly opening, vertically disposed recess for tobacco. Integral with the bowl is the usual, stemsection 2 extending laterally from. the lower end of the bowl, and which section has a passageway therein longitudinally thereof communicating at one end with the lower end of the recess in the bowl, while the opposite end is open. Also there is a mouthpiece 3 having a bore therethrough, which mouthpiece is to be secured to the stem section with its bore in axial alignment with the passageway in said stem section, as will be explained later.

The said passageway in the stem section extends at one end into the bowl past the lower end of the recess in said bowl, and said passageway-is annular in cross-section and 'of uniform diameter.

Secured in said passageway is an elongated tubular member 4, preferably of metal, such as Duralumin, or aluminum, or the like, having a relatively high heat transfer efliciency. This member 4 extends at one of its ends 'past the opening in the bottom of the recess in bowl I, and into the heel of the bowl, where it is closed by an end wall 5, preferably of the same metal as the member 4. The opposite end of member 4 projects outwardly of the stem section 2, and while this member has a close, press fit in the passageway in said stem section, a cement of any suitable character at the outer end of said stem section may provide additional means for securing said member in said passageway.

As seen in Fig. l, the opening in the bottom of the bowl recess, is an elongated, relatively wide slot, and the portion of the member 4 that extends across this slot is preferably formed with a plurality of relatively small openings 6 disposed near the center of said slot relative to its length, and at opposite sides of a vertical plane bisecting the bowl I and stem section 2.

The here through the mouthpiece is preferably horizontally flattened at its bit end 3', and the bore therethrough is similarly flattened in said end, and gradually tapers; to an enlarged cylindrical bore of uniform diameter at the opposite end; there being an annular shoulder 8 at the juncture between the tapered portion and said cylindrical portion.

Secured in said cylindrical portion of the bore in said mouthpiece is a metal tube, one end 9 of which abuts said shoulder 8, with the other end Ill extending outwardly of the end of the mouthpiece opposite the bit end 3. The portion 9 is firmly secured in the cylindrical bore in the mouthpiece, either by a press fit, or in any other desired manner.

Considering the pipe to be in about normal smoking position as shown in Fig. 2, the outer end of the portion II], which is remote from portion 9 is cut away at one side, forming an upwardly opening U-shaped channel II, one end of which connects integrally with portion 9, and the opposite end of which is closed, preferably by bore, hence the mouthpiece preferably does not abut the end of the stem section 2 with any degree of force, since the shoulder I1 and the end of member 4 provide the stop for the movement of the mouthpiece in connecting the latter with the stem section 2.

In operation, during the smoking of the pipe disclosed in the drawing, it will be seen that the body of the tobacco in the bowl rests on the portion of metal member 4 where it extends across the slot in the bottom of the bowl, and the flow of air through the pipe bowl, instead of being directed to one side of the bottom of the recess, is drawn toward the center where holes 6 are distributed to result in an even fiow of air through the tobacco and into member 4. The metal of the member 4, being relatively thin, does not provide an opportunity for the tobacco to wedge or drawing the opposite sides I2 of the channel to- V ward each other as best seen in Fig. 4.

A rod-like extension I3 extends from said closed end of the channel II, having a circular disk I4, substantially coaxial with portions 9, II secured to the outer end of extension I3. This circular disk has a relatively close fit within the member 4, and when the mouthpiece 3' is connected with the stem section 2, the said disk is almost in contact with the end 5 of member 4, and a substantial space X or chamber, within member 4 is between holes 6 and the side of disk I4 that faces toward channel II. The disk I4, when in said position, is almost even with the side of the recess in bowl I that is opposite the side of the bowl from which the stem section 2 projects. This space is very important, to the accomplishment of the desired results, as will later be explained. 1

The rod-like extension I3, is solid and of relatively small diameter relative to the inside diameter of the member 4, and may be secured to the channel II, by solder or in any other suitable manner, or, as shown in Fig. 5, the said extension I3 including the disk I4, designated in said figure may be formed integrally with the channel II.

The tubular portions 9', IO in Fig. 5 correspond exactly to the similar portions 9 and ID shown in the form illustrated in Figs. 2, 4.

The bottom of the channel I I (Fig. 2) or channel H (Fig. 5) is formed adjacent the outer closed end of said channel with a slight downward bulge I6, IS, and the bore of member 4 slidably receives the portion II) of the tube that is secured to the mouthpiece. This fit between the portion I9 and member 4 is preferably not so close in itself as to frictionally secure the mouthpiece to the member 4 against accidental removal from the member 4, but when the tube portion I 9 is fitted in the member 4, the bulge I6, together. with the side of portion I9 opposite thereto will cooperate to form a spring friction fit in member 4 that does frictionally secure the mouthpiece against accidental removal and eliminates all chance of the portion I9 sticking in member 4. A slight bending of channel II to augment the degree at which the bulge I6 projects radially outwardly of the axis of tube II] controls the tightness of the fit. This bending is readily done by the smoker.

When the end portion III of the tube that is carried by the mouthpiece is fitted in the outer open end of member 4, the outwardly projecting end of said member fits in a counterbore around the portion 9 and the free end of said member 4 abuts a shoulder I! at the end of said counterjam into the holes, and the holes 6, being offset to opposite sides of the medial vertical plane of the bowl, but spaced from the edges of the slot in the bottom of the bowl, are in downwardly slanting portions of the metal, thus functioning to keep the tobacco from tending to pass through said holes.

Furthermore, since a considerable amount of the metal of member 4 is exposed in the bottom of the bowl, this exposed metal serves to dry up any moisture coming from the tobacco and the smoke in the bowl itself, thus keeping the bowl dry.

The space or chamber portion X provides a highly heated area, since this portion is in the hottest part of member 4, and functions as a drying or evaporating chamber for the moisture or liquid that tends to flow into this chamber, principally from the mouth of the smoker. This space or chamber prevents said liquid from coming in contact with the tobacco in the bowl until such time as the metal of the said chamber becomes hot and dries up said liquid. This is essential, since heretofore, it has been the mouth liquid coming in contact with the tobacco, and being burned with the tobacco that has made pipes strong.

The smoke drawn through holes 6 passes substantially unrestricted through the large bore of member 4 into the large bore portions I9, 9 by way of channel ll. Any mouth liquid in the mouthpiece flows freely out of the tapering passageway therein, into channel II by way of the portions 9, I0 and out of said channel into the bore of member 4 with each normal downward tilting of the pipe during smoking, and cannot then return to said channel, but flows into the evaporating space X where the heat causes substantial evaporation thereof.

After smoking, the residue, of solids in the evaporating chamber, or any small particles of.

tobacco, are readily scraped out of the open end of member 4 by disk I4 upon withdrawal of the mouthpiece, This withdrawal of such solids together with any moisture therein, is readily ac complished since the disk I4 may be freely with since the flue or passageway for air and smoke through the stem and mouthpiece are large and substantially coaxial. tube portions 9, I9 readily passes into channel II and out of the latter over its slantedclosed-end,

A cleaner passing throughthere being no projections or restrictions in said tube or mouthpiece. Also, the bore of member 4 is fully open for cleaning when the mouthpiece is removed.

The use of rod-like member I 3 instead of a tube or the like, provides the requisite strength for supporting disk M with the minimum of material, since it is desirable to maintain the largest possible free area, as a large diameter stem or rod, or tube, would result in the moisture in said bore interfering with a free draft of smoke therethrough.

The Duralumin or metal of the member 4, in the evaporating chamber, quickly takes the heat from the smoke, thus cooling the smoke, and at the same time, drying the moisture in said drying chamber. Moreover, the metal of member 4, in giving up heat in drying the liquid, absorbs that much heat from the smoke passing through member 4.

In stating that the moisture drys up, this statement should be qualified to the extent that the residue is never dried to a hard condition, but to a semi-moist condition; thus there is no tendcncy of the disk M to be jammed against removal by such residue, but instead, the semi-moist residue is readily pulled out of the member 4.

The smoke drawn into the member t and tube portions 9, Hi and into the bore in the mouthpiece itself, is not restricted in any way, as by small holes, baffles, etc.

In summary, the pipe as described is one that, (1) dries up liquid or moisture in both the bowl and stem portion; (2) cools the smoke even by utilizing the liquid that may be present for that end; (3) allows mouth liquid to flow freely into the drying or evaporating chamber, thereby avoiding any tendency to gurgle; (4.) prevents mouth liquid from coming in contact with thetobacco in the bowl, thereby preventing the pipe from becoming strong; (5) prevents liquid therein from flowing into the mouth of the smoker; (6) is easily and quickly cleaned and does not require frequent cleaning; (7) provides a coupling between the mouthpiece and stem that is clean and will not leak and that can be easily tightened, and which coupling is consistent with the purpose of the pi e; (8) will not clog and is substantially free from the partial clogging that is objectionable in conventional pipes; (9) conforms exteriorly to the appearance of conventional pipes of the type having a slightly enlarged heel, as shown in the drawing.

The structural features of the pipe of my in vention, which includes the several elements and their relation to each other, all cooperate to accomplish the above enumerated results in a pipe in which the provision of the plurality of openings 6 in member 4 to insure a free draft from the bowl into the stem, is made practical. The mere provision of a plurality of openings communicating between the bowl and stem, in itself, is not new, but it is believed new in association with the other features in my pipe.

The end result of a pipe is fundamentally in the draw. The draw is the connecting link between the pipe and the smoker. If the draw is right, being free from gurgling, clogging, and frictional resistance, restrictions, etc., the pipe functions correctly. Thus, while one pipe may heretofore have a plurality of openings between the bowl and stem, the proper functioning of the pipe is still defeated if objectionable resistances, gurgling, and liquid are in the stem passageway. Also where traps for liquid are used remote from the bowl or near the bowl, a failure to prevent clogging defeats the desired end.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A smoking pipe having a bowl and a stem projecting laterally from the lower end thereof, a passageway provided in said stem extending longitudinally thereof one end of which communicates with the interior of said bowl and the opposite end being open, a mouthpiece in coaxial alignment with said stem and an open-ended tube coaxial with said mouthpiece and secured at one end thereof in one end of the mouthpiece and having an elongated extension of resilient material rigidly secured thereto in axial extension of one side thereof and projecting axially thereof into said passageway, a radially projecting protuberance on said extension spaced from said mouthpiece frictionally engaging one of the sides of said passageway under yieldable tension of that portion of the extension between said protuberance and said mouthpiece, and means spaced from said protuberance frictionally and receivably securing said mouthpiece to said stem under the yieldable tension of said portion of said extension and supporting said portion under said tension.

2. A smoking pipe having a bowl and a stem projecting laterally from the lower end thereof, a metal tube in said stem extending from the heel of said bowl across the lower end of the latter and terminating in an open end adjacent the outer end of said stem remote from said bowl, a metal closure on said tube sealing the end of the latter that is in said heel, and an opening formed in the upper side of said tube spaced from said closure providing for communication between the interiors of said bowl and tube, a mouthpiece in coaxial alignment with said tube, an elongated extension of resilient material rigidly secured at one of its ends to said mouthpiece and extending into said tube and past said opening to a point adjacent said closure, a relatively thin metal plunger free from association with absorbent material secured to the end of said extension that is adjacent said closure and spaced from said opening, a radially projecting protuberance on said extension spaced between said mouthpiece and said plunger and frictionally engaging one of the sides of said tube under yieldable tension of that portion of the extension between said protuberance and said mouthpiece, means spaced from said protuberance friction} ally and removably securing said mouthpiece to said stem under the yieldable tension of said por-' tion of said extension and supporting said portion under said tension.

3. A smoking pipe having a bowl and a stern projecting laterally from the lower end thereof, a passageway provided in said stem extending from a point within the heel of said bowl to the outer end of said stem remote from said bowl and opening outwardly of said outer end, a tubular metal liner tightly secured in said passageway terminating in a closed end within said heel and provided with an opening in its upper side communicating between the interiors of said bowl and liner, said liner projecting outwardly of said outer end of said stem and being open at its projecting end, a mouthpiece at said outer end of said stem provided with a through bore in axial alignment with said liner, the projecting end of said liner having a smooth outer surface extending relatively freely into the end of said bore adjacent thereto, an elongated extension of resilient material rigidly secured to said mouthplece at one of its ends and extending axially into said liner and formed with a radially ofiset portion at a point spaced from said mouthpiece, said portion and one of the sides of the said bore around the projecting end of said liner being held respectively in frictional engagement with the inner side of said liner and one side of said projecting end under yieldable tension of the part of said extension'disposedbetween said portion and said mouthpiece, said part normally supporting said offset portion in a position offset a suflicient distance radially from the axis of said bore to effect said yieldable tension upon inserting the projecting end of said liner into the end of said bore adjacent thereto for securing said mouthpiece to said stem.

4. A smoking pipe having a bowl and a stem projecting laterally from the lower end thereof, a passageway provided in said stem extending from a point within the heel of said bowl to the outer end of said stem remote from said bowl and opening outwardly of said outer end, a tubular metal liner tightly secured in said passageway terminating in a closed end within said heel and provided with an opening in its upper side communicating between the interiors of said bowl and liner at a point adjacent the central axis of the bowl, said liner projecting outwardly of said outer end of said stem and being open at its projecting end, a mouthpiece at said outer end of said stem provided with a throughbore in axial alignment with said liner, the projecting end of said liner having a smooth outer surface extending relatively freely into the end of said bore adjacent thereto, an elongated extension of resilient metal rigidly secured to said mouthpiece at one of its ends and extending into said liner and past said opening to a point adjacent the closed end of the liner, a relatively thin metal plunger free from association with absorbent material secured to the end of said extension at said point and spaced a substantial distance from said opening in direction toward said heel, said extension being formed with a radially offset portion spaced between said mouthpiece and said plunger, said portion and one of the sides of said bore around the projecting end of said liner being held respectively in;

frictional engagement with the inner side of said liner and one side of said projecting end under yieldable tension of the part of said extension disposed between said portion and said mouthpiece, said part normally supporting said ofiset portion in a position offset a sufficient distance radially from the axis of said bore to effect said yieldable tension upon inserting the projecting end of said liner into the end of said bore adjacent thereto for securing said mouthpiece to said stem.

5. A smoking pipe having a bowl and a stem projecting laterally from the lower end thereof, a metal tube firmly secured in said stem providing a passageway for smoke therethrough, one end of said tube terminating in the heel of said bowl and being closed by a metal closure providing a leak-proof seal of relatively high heat conductivity at said end and the opposite end of said tube being open adjacent the outer end of said stem, the end portion of said tube carrying said closure being positioned across the lower end of said bowl with its upper side forming a substantial portion of the bottom of the bowl, a relatively thin metal plunger freely slidable axially in said tube through its open end to a point closely adjacent said closure and positioned closely adjacent the latter, an opening for smoke formed in said upper side of the said end portion of said tube communicating with the interior of said bowl and spaced from said plunger a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said end portion thereby providing an evaporating chamber for moisture in said end portion having the said upper side thereof in direct heat transfer relation with the burning tobacco to be held in said bowl, a mouthpiece removably secured to said stem and tube at the outer end of the latter, and a member spaced within said tube secur-; ing said plunger to said mouthpiece for withdrawal of said plunger from said tube as a unit with said mouthpiece upon removal of the latter from said stem, the inner sides of said tube being clear from end to end of moisture absorbent, material and said plunger being free from engagement and direct association with such material whereby any foul moisture-laden material within said tube may be completely cleaned therefrom leaving hard, dry surfaces.

6. A smoking pipe having a bowl and a stem projecting from the lower end thereof, a passageway in said stem communicating at its inner end with the interior of said bowl and open atits outer, opposite end, a tube secured in said passageway forming part of the latter and projecting from said outer end, a mouthpiece at said outer end of said stem having a through bore in axial alignment with said tube, the projecting end of said tube having a smooth, outer surface extending relatively freely into the end of said bore adjacent thereto, an elongated extension of resilient metal rigidly secured to said mouthpiece at one of its ends and extending into said tube, said extension being formed with a radially offset portion spaced between said mouthpiece and the said inner end of said passageway, said portion and one of the sides of said bore around the projecting end of said tube being held respectively in frictional engagement with the inner side of said passageway and one side of said projecting end under yieldable tension of the part of said extension disposed between said portion and said mouthpiece, said part normally supporting said ofiset portion in a position offset a sufficient distance radially from the axis of said bore to effect said yieldable tension upon inserting the projecting end of said tube into the end of said bore adjacent thereto for securing said mouthpiece to said stem.

7. A smoking pipe having a bowl and a stem projecting from the lower end thereof, an elongated mouthpiece secured at one of its ends to said stem in axial alignment of the latter, coaxial communicating passageways formed in said stem and mouthpiece, an open-ended tube coaxial with said stem and said mouthpiece and extending across the juncture between their adjacent ends, a substantially semi-cylindrical extension integral with said tube in axial extension of the lower side thereof when said bowl is upright, positioned between said bowl and the outer end of said stem for conducting moisture from the mouthpiece into said stem while permitting smoke from the bowl to flow over said extension and into said mouthpiece, and a plunger integrally secured to said extension for movement therewith upon withdrawal of said tube from said stem, and a slight protuberance on said extension projecting radially outwardly thereof for frictionally engaging a side of the passageway in said stem for frictionally holding said tube in position in the latter.

v EDGAR M. HOUX. 

